Veronika Brosnan, 12, (left) and Sama Ali, 14, stroke a sheep after being given a Covid-19 vaccination at North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) in Epsom, as a petting zoo, family fun days and a skate park are just some of attractions lined up by NHS and volunteers to get 12 to 15-year-olds vaccinated during the half term. Picture date: Saturday February 12, 2022. PA Photo. As many schools break up for half term, the NHS is sending invites to parents of more than one million 12 to 15-year-olds reminding them to come forward for their jab, with over 770,000 appointments available for this age group. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
The ‘new normal’ – some sheep in the car park of a vaccination centre (Picture: PA)

A petting zoo full of sheep and a skate park are just some of the things the NHS has lined up to get children vaccinated.

Shetland sheep – called Lashes, Cumin, Coriander, Clove and Cardamom – greeted youngsters going for their Covid jabs at Nescot College in Epsom this weekend.

Sama Ali, 14, from Tadworth, Surrey, is scared of needles but wanted to get jabbed to protect her 75-year-old grandmother.

The teen said the sheep had a ‘calming’ effect and it was ‘fun to stroke the animals’.

Her mother Farina Ahmad said: ‘I am so proud of her. The sheep were a nice surprise, especially as she was nervous.’

Veronika Brosnan, 12, from Sutton, was also a bit nervous about the injection, but said she feels better after getting it.

She said: ‘It was fun to feed the sheep and stroke them because when I am older I want to work with animals.’

Sheep in a 'petting pen' at a Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) in Epsom, as a petting zoo, family fun days and a skate park are just some of the attractions lined up by NHS and volunteers to get 12 to 15-year-olds vaccinated during the half term. Picture date: Saturday February 12, 2022. PA Photo. As many schools break up for half term, the NHS is sending invites to parents of more than one million 12 to 15-year-olds reminding them to come forward for their jab, with over 770,000 appointments available for this age group. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
The Shetland sheep were housed in ‘petting pen’ in the car park (Picture: PA)
EMBARGOED TO 0001 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 13 Sheep in a 'petting pen' at a Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) in Epsom, as a petting zoo, family fun days and a skate park are just some of the attractions lined up by NHS and volunteers to get 12 to 15-year-olds vaccinated during the half term. Picture date: Saturday February 12, 2022. PA Photo. As many schools break up for half term, the NHS is sending invites to parents of more than one million 12 to 15-year-olds reminding them to come forward for their jab, with over 770,000 appointments available for this age group. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
The sheep had a ‘calming effect’ (Picture: PA)

Nurse Catherine Frew Brown said: ‘We want the children to appreciate the experience and they may come back again without feeling anxious and fearful.

‘It is very important that this age group is vaccinated because they are on their half-term holiday at the moment. They are going to be going back into school and will be mingling.

‘We want them to be vaccinated so they are protected and safe while they are with members of their own family, some of whom may not yet have been vaccinated.’

More than 770,000 appointments have been made available during this cheerful drive to get the children vaccinated.

Sama Ali, 14, strokes a sheep after being given a Covid-19 vaccination at North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) in Epsom, as a petting zoo, family fun days and a skate park are just some of the attractions lined up by NHS and volunteers to get 12 to 15-year-olds vaccinated during the half term. Picture date: Saturday February 12, 2022. PA Photo. As many schools break up for half term, the NHS is sending invites to parents of more than one million 12 to 15-year-olds reminding them to come forward for their jab, with over 770,000 appointments available for this age group. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Sama Ali, 14, strokes a sheep after getting jabbed (Picture: PA)

Since the rollout was expanded to include children late last year, the NHS has delivered more than 2.1 million vaccinations to 12 to 15 year olds.

The line-up of attractions are being laid on during half-term. Balloons, face painting and other activities will be on offer for children at the Community Centre in south-east London.

A walk-in clinic for children seeking their first or second dose is also set to open at Adrenaline Alley Skate Park in Corby from Tuesday to Sunday.

Dr Nikki Kanani said: ‘While it is great news that more than 1.5 million children aged 12 to 15 have had their first dose, it is estimated that more than two in five children in this age group are yet to come forward for their vaccine.

‘This half-term offers the perfect opportunity to get your child protected, by booking an appointment online or using one of the hundreds of walk-in sites across the country, with pop-ups this week at places like North East Surrey College of Technology.

‘My 13-year-old son has now had two vaccinations and it has definitely given us both that extra dose of reassurance.’

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